Latest news with #RatnakarandaShravakachara
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
05-05-2025
- Health
- First Post
What is Santhara, the Jain ritual of 'fast unto death' that claimed life of 3-year-old in MP?
The death of a three-year-old girl with a brain tumour, shortly after her parents made her observe a Jain fasting ritual, in Madhya Pradesh's Indore has left many shocked. This week, the Golden Book of World Records named Vinaya the 'youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara'. Notably, Santhara is an ancient Jain practice where a person voluntarily gives up food and water, awaiting death as a means to cleanse the soul and attain spiritual liberation read more A row broke out after a three-year-old girl with a brain tumour died shortly after her parents made her observe a Jain fasting ritual in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. The girl, Viyana Jain, was their only child. Her parents said she passed away on March 21. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Her parents, who work in the IT sector, followed the advice of their spiritual guide, Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj, before taking this step. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | What is China's 'ghost wedding' tradition of marrying the dead? On March 21, during a visit to the monk, the child was given the Santhara vow with the agreement of her parents. Just minutes later, she died. In this explainer, we look at what the Jain ritual is, what happened to the girl, and why her death has led to a row. What is 'Santhara'? Santhara is an age-old Jain ritual in which a person chooses to give up food and water and peacefully wait for death. It is seen as a way to cleanse the soul and move towards spiritual freedom. It is also known as 'Sallekhana'. The term sallekhana is formed from sat (truth) and lekhana (to thin or wear away), and it reflects the idea of weakening the body on purpose. Jains believe that this helps remove suffering, which blocks the soul's path to liberation. This vow is considered a serious religious decision and is based on the idea of penance and letting go of worldly ties to free the soul. Both monks and laypeople may follow this practice, but it is not taken lightly. It is prominent in the Jain Canon and is strongly encouraged, Hindustan Times reported. However, not everyone is allowed to take this vow at any time. A Sundara, who heads the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka, said in his research that Jain texts are clear that Santhara should only be done in certain conditions. These include old age, a serious illness with no cure, or times of extreme hardship like famine, when a person can no longer follow their religious path in regular ways. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the oldest Jain texts that mentions this is Ratnakaranda Shravakachara, written by Samantabhadra in the 4th century AD. It explains how the vow should be taken and under what conditions. According to the text, a person must remain calm, give up all personal belongings, and emotionally distance themselves from their loved ones. They should forgive everyone, seek forgiveness, and feel regret for any wrongs they have done. With a clear and peaceful mind, they are then expected to pray and slowly stop eating and drinking, continuing this fast until death. Is Santhara legal? The debate around Santhara intensified in legal and religious circles in 2015 after the Rajasthan High Court ruled it a punishable offence under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 309 (attempt to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. This decision led to strong opposition from the Jain community, who consider Santhara a sacred and age-old religious practice. Later in 2015, the Supreme Court put the Rajasthan High Court's order on hold. It took note of petitions filed by the Jain community and recognised Santhara as a separate religious practice. The row over the child's death in Indore This week, the Golden Book of World Records named Vinaya the 'youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara.' Her parents, Piyush and Varsha Jain, said they followed the advice of their spiritual guide. Both parents work in the Information Technology (IT) sector and said they chose the Santhara path for their daughter after consulting a Jain monk. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Piyush Jain, the father, told PTI, 'My daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour in January this year. She underwent surgery, following which her health improved. But in March, her condition deteriorated and she started facing difficulty in consuming food and drinking.' The Golden Book of World Records named Vinaya the 'youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara'. Image: X On the night of March 21, he took his seriously ill daughter to visit Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj along with other family members. 'Maharaj ji saw my daughter's condition and told us that the girl's end is near and she should be given the Santhara vow. This fast holds a lot of significance in Jainism. After thinking about it, we finally agreed to go for it,' he said. He said his daughter passed away within minutes of the monk completing the Santhara rituals. Her mother, Varsha Jain, said, 'I cannot describe how difficult the decision was to make my daughter take the Santhara vow. My daughter was suffering a lot due to the brain tumour. It was very painful for me to see her in this condition.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking of Viyana, she became emotional and said, 'I want my daughter to always be happy in her next birth.' Omkar Singh, a member of the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Commission, told HT, 'This is a religious practice meant for fully conscious adults, typically the elderly.' 'The toddler could not have possibly consented. We are examining whether this constitutes a violation of child protection laws and will act accordingly.' A senior doctor familiar with the case told the publication, 'She should have been in a hospital receiving palliative care.' With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
What is Santhara? Jain ritual in focus after MP girl, 3, dies during ‘death fast'
The centuries-old Jain ritual 'Santhara', which involves fasting until death, gained attention following the death of a three-year-old girl from Madhya Pradesh. The child, Viyana Jain, had been suffering from a brain tumour, and her IT professional parents chose to lead her through this religious practice after consulting with their spiritual leader, Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj. Viyana passed away on March 21 in Indore. This week, the Golden Book of World Records recognised Vinaya as the "youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara." The girl's parents, Piyush and Varsha Jain, confirmed they followed the advice of their spiritual leader, according to HT's previous report. Why is this making news now? The ritual raises questions about its legality and practice. Know more about Santhara, its tradition, and whether it is legally permissible. Santhara, also known as 'sallekhana or samadhi maran', is described in various Jain texts as the voluntary act of facing death through fasting. According to A Sundara, head of the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka, the underlying concept of this vow involves complete control over human passions and gradually abstaining from food and drink. The term sallekhana comes from the words "sat" (truth) and "lekhana" (emaciation), symbolising the act of voluntary physical weakening. It signifies the belief that reducing the body's strength helps eliminate the source of suffering, which is considered a barrier to the soul's liberation. This ritual is seen as a conscious religious act aimed at emancipating the soul through penance and self-mortification. This vow is a significant aspect of religious practices for both ordained individuals and laypersons. It is prominent in the Jain Canon and highly recommended. However, it is not something that can be undertaken at any time by anyone. Jain scriptures provide clear instructions, stating that sallekhana can only be practiced when a person is nearing death, suffering from old age, incurable disease, or during times of famine. For instance, if a person's deteriorating eyesight leads to repeated violations of the principle of ahimsa, they may choose to end their life through sallekhana. The Jain scriptures and inscriptions refer to this practice using various terms such as samlehana, samadhi, samadhimaran, and sanyasana, and occasionally the term pandita-marana is used to describe this form of death. The Ratnakaranda Shravakachara, a significant Jain text written around the 4th century AD by Samantabhadra, clearly explains the Santhara vow and its guidelines. According to the text, individuals who take the vow must master their emotions, renounce all possessions, and detach mentally from their loved ones. They must also seek forgiveness from others, forgive everyone, and express remorse for their wrongdoings. With a peaceful mindset, they should focus on prayers and gradually cease eating and drinking, fasting until death. The research by A Sundara also addresses opinions suggesting that the practice of Santhara is equivalent to suicide. However, this is not the case. Suicide involves the abrupt taking of one's life through forbidden means, driven by momentary anger or frustration, with no ultimate purpose. In contrast, Samadhi-marana, also known as Santhara, is a deliberate and spiritual act, performed only when nearing death. It is characterised by a calm mental state and strict adherence to religious guidelines. Unlike suicide, which is an escapist act, Santhara is a courageous, determined process aimed at achieving salvation and is a foundational practice in Jain philosophy. The controversy surrounding Santhara gained legal and religious attention in 2015 when the Rajasthan High Court ruled that the practice was punishable under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 309 (attempted suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. The court argued that voluntarily ending one's life amounted to self-harm and could not be defended as a religious act. However, the decision sparked protests from the Jain community, and a month later, the Supreme Court put a stay on the order, allowing the practice of Santhara to continue under the protection of religious freedom.
